Newport, RI (SportsNetwork.com) – Tennis Hall-of-Famer Dorothy “Dodo” Cheney,
the first American woman to win the title now known as the Australian Open,
died at the age of 98.
The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced that Cheney died Sunday in
Escondido, California, following a brief illness.
She was inducted in 2004 and introduced at the ceremony by fellow Hall member
John McEnroe.
In addition to her 1938 singles title at the Australian Championships, Cheney
reached the semifinals at least once at each of the other three Grand Slam
tournaments and was ranked in the Top 10 in the 1930s and 1940s. She captured
nearly 400 USTA national titles across various age groups.
Cheney’s mother, May Sutton Bundy, is also enshrined in the Tennis Hall of
Fame.
“Dodo Cheney was one of the most prolific champions in the history of tennis
and the personification of tennis truly being a lifetime sport,” said USTA
chairman Dave Haggerty. “She played competitively into her 90s, and her
remarkable grace, singular class and competitive spirit made her one of our
sport’s greatest ambassadors. She will be sorely missed by the sport that she
loved.”
